Abstract
In Denmark the hygienic quality of the bathing water has been controlled, based on general guidelines since 1978. Today more than 1100 control sites in marine areas have been established to ensure safe bathing water quality. According to EEC directives and Danish tradition, the control is usually performed by measuring the content of the indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) in 5 to 20 test samples each bathing season.
In Denmark, control programmes and data are evaluated using basic statistical quality control principles. This paper presents general guidelines for bacterial control, their statistical background and practical application. Furthermore, the evaluation and application of a specific programme for control of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are presented. This programme was used in a Danish bay where the authorities prescribe direct control of these potentially harmful bacteria.
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Miljøstyrelsen: 1985, Monitoring of Bathing Water Quality, Guideline from the National Agency of Environmental Protection, Denmark.
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Sørensen, P.S., La Cour Jansen, J. & Spliid, H. Statistical control of hygienic quality of bathing water. Environ Monit Assess 17, 217–226 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399304
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399304